Attitudes and Willingness of Nursing Students Toward Elderly Care：The Moderating Role of Demographic Factors in Henan, China

Objective This study aimed to examine the relationship between nursing students’ attitudes towards the elderly and their willingness to engage in elderly care, and to test whether age, gender, and prior caregiving experience moderate this relationship. Background China’s rapidly ageing population has led to an increasing demand for qualified nursing professionals capable of providing high-quality elderly care. Understanding nursing students’ attitudes and willingness to work with the elderly is crucial for addressing workforce needs in this growing sector. Design : This research employed a cross-sectional survey design. Methods A total of 233 nursing students from Henan Province, China, completed a questionnaire assessing attitudes toward older adults and willingness to provide elderly care. Data were analysed using correlation to evaluate the primary association and multiple regression to test the moderating effects of age, gender, and prior caregiving experience. Results Findings indicated that students generally exhibited positive attitudes but only moderate willingness to care for the elderly. Correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between attitudes and willingness. Regression results further revealed that demographic variables, specifically age, gender, and prior caregiving experience, moderated this relationship. Older students, females, and those with caregiving experience demonstrated a stronger willingness when holding positive attitudes. Conclusion The results underscore the need to strengthen geriatric nursing education and provide experiential learning opportunities that can transform positive attitudes into greater commitment to elderly care. Enhancing these educational strategies may help meet the increasing demand for elderly care professionals in China.